Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-03-04
Gov. Hill on Democracy.

AT the annual meeting OF the Oung
Mems Democratic Club, of Brooklyn
on the evening of Washington's birth
day, Gov. Hill was called upon to re
spond to the toast of "The NatiOna
Democracy" The speaker, when he
arose, was greeted with loud and long
continued acclamations. He paid
glowing tribute to Thomas Jefferson
whom he characterized as the founder
of the Democratic party, whose historic
principles the speaker described. Ht
said those principles guided the party
in its earliest days, and later was add
ed the now fully accepted "Monrot
Doctrine" and later still, under Jack
sons Administration, the admirable
system of an independent treasury was
adopted and ever since maintained
Subsequently the party demands In
cluded support of honest currency, op
position to all sumptuary laws, reduc
ton of war taxes in times of peace
economy in public expenditures, and
liberal pensions for deserving soldiers
The speaker declared that the Democ
racy were wrongfully cheated out O
United States Senators in New York
Connecticut and Rhode Island, by Re-
publican election machinery. Contro
of the next United States Senate was
maintained by two votes in Nevada
which, he said, decreasing in popula
ton, had only $4,000 inhabitants, less
than either of nineteen New York
counties. He declared reform neces
sary to prevent majorities from mis-
conduct.
He proceeded: "The history of the
Democratic party is that of the coun'
try itself. Its every page is embla
zoned with the achievements of Demo
cratic soldiers. Every important &C
QUESTION of territory to the United
States has been made by Democratic
Administration, comprising over 3,
100000 square miles. Every struggle
against foreign foe was instituted by
Democratic statesmen"
Continuing, the speaker said: "The
Republican party, brought into life
upon a sectional issue has ever since
continued to be a sectional party, hav.
ing no foothold in one-third of the
States of the Union. 1t appeals te
prejudice. which forbids it ever becom
ing a national party or securing the
confidence of the people. 1t has beer
a minority party ever since its exist
ence. 1t usurped arbitrary power
it invaded personal liberty of citizens
it violated the right of habeas corpus
carried elections by force and the aid
of visiting statesmen; it gives away
public lands to railway corporations
instead of reserving them for actua
settlers. You can't point to a single
instance wherein the Democratic party
has been guilty of either wrongs, o.
wherein a Democratic legislature failei
in its constitutional duty relating tc
representation. Itmust be owned thai
Cleveland's administration has giver
the country the benefit of honesty and
economy. His integrity and sincerity
have never been questioned. Tht
laws have been faithfully executed, the
revenue collected with diligence, the
expenses of the government reduced
and foreign affairs conducted with con
servative dignity. / earnestly appea
to those whose personal ambitions tt
lead at.times, tempt them to break thu
Democratic harmony: Desist from
internecine feuds; obliterate all fac
tions; WELD its tremendous power'
for the perpetuation of Democratic ad
ministration declare that there is bu
one Democratic creed, and call upor
all Democrats everywhere to stand by
the party that was instituted by Dem
ocratic statesmen"